The Harold & Maudecast - Sarah Mason & Jake Essoe

This week Sarah Mason and Jake Essoe review Logan for The HMC Network's Now Playing Reviews.

Hugh Jackman reprises his role as Logan/Wolverine for the last time in this darker, grittier X-Men universe film. Set in the not so distant future, 2029, the world is looking pretty bleak for Logan (Hugh Jackman) and Charles Xavier (Sir Patrick Stewart) last surviving mutants. The once powerful leaders of the X-Men are weak and vulnerable suffering a mundane human existence. Logan is showing the effects of adamantium poisoning which has slowly been taking away his healing powers. Charles, suffering from a form of dementia is dependent on Logan and another surviving mutant Caliban (Stephen Merchant) for care and medicine which has become necessary for more than his safety as his disease as certified his brain to be a weapon of mass destruction. Logan seems content in his miserable existence, driving a limousine and popping pills, until a mysterious little girl drags him into one last heroic venture.

Unlike any of it's franchise predecessors, Logan is extremely dark with more of an apocalyptic Road Warrior feel to it. It is the first R rated film of the X-Men franchise making us wonder why they all didn't do the same. Thanks to the success of 2016's Deadpool, also R Rated, and now the success of Logan ($85m opening weekend), look for Hollywood to start slowly opening the gates on R rated super hero films. In the case of Logan, the freedom to go balls out opens up a whole new dimension for the character(s) -- Dr. X dropping F bombs? Yes! It's the Wolverine we wish we had seen before, no implied destruction, actual visual confirmation of it. Thank you! Finally. Don't count on a Marvel happy super hero ending, this film has way more soul. Much justice.

Rick and Michonne go on a vacation in search of batteries, guns and sex. On their extended travels they discover an old carnival stock full of supplies and soldiers, for some unexplained reason. Those Walker soldiers have the guns they need however they have to get to them first. But this is no problem for our heroes, right? They seem to think so taking a momentary respite from the pain and suffering of their reality, the two flirt it up like a couple on their honeymoon. Of course, that doesn't last long. In true Walking Dead style, they face some close calls that lead to a moment of panic wondering if Rick has finally been defeated. They can't kill Rick, right?

Justice for this episode as it delivers on some great zombie action reminding us why started watching The Walking Dead in the first place.

Visit www.thehmcnetwork.com for all of our We Talk Dead episodes also more TV reviews, movie reviews, news and Con coverage.

Sarah and Jake from The Harold & Maudecast recap and review the Season Finale, Episode 8, of Taboo on FX starring Tom Hardy, created by Hardy, Chips Hardy, Stephen Knight and Executive Produced by Ridley Scott.

It appears the true identity of Keyser Soze has been revealed and he's James Delaney. The season finale was bloody, explosive, and filled with good ol fashioned cursing -- bout time. James Delaney (Hardy) always 100 steps ahead of the audience, and Sir Stuart Strange The Company, orchestrated a brilliant getaway. Bound and awaiting trial in the Tower of London thanks to Sir Stuart Strange (Jonathan Pryce), Delaney played the cards he had be holding all along. But if you think everyone gets out of this episode alive, and they all sail off together on the high seas, think again and be prepared for some sadness. In the end, the season finale of Taboo delivers justice, and ties up all the loose ends in Season 1 with a promise for adventure in Season 2.

Spoilers abound in our recap and review which we are giving an enthusiastic 9.5/10.

For all of our Season 1 episode reviews of Taboo and more TV and film reviews visit www.thehmcnetwork.com

Sarah Mason and Jake Essoe Review the film, Get Out, on Now Playing Reviews on The HMC.

Jordan Peele of Key and Peele makes his directorial debut with Get Out, a thriller about an interracial couple headed to meet the parents for the first time. Chris (Daniel Kuulaya) reluctantly accompanies his white girlfriend Rose (Allison Williams) to her parents house in the suburbs and soon finds that his worst fears were nothing compared to the terrifying reality awaiting him.

Get Out is a great first feature debut by Peele. His script is effective and fast moving with sufficient suspense and jump scares that will definitely grab you when you least expect it. Seasoned horror/thriller fans will not be particularly shocked or surprised at the reveal nevertheless its quite fun and scary. The only somewhat sour note is that Williams portrayal of enlightened rich white girl Rose felt like Marnie plays a part in a horror movie. Overall there are some great performances including lead Daniel Kaluuya and veteran supporting cast members Bradley Whitford and Catherine Keener.
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We are giving this film Justice. It's worth a trip to the theater to see it. 7.5/10

This week on The Harold & Maudecast's weekly podcast, We Talk Dead, Sarah and Jake review and recap of The Walking Dead episode 711 "Hostiles and Calamities".

Leaving off where Daryl escaped from the Saviors compound, Eugene is welcomed to his new home by Negan and quickly finds a way to utilize his smarty pants. We meet some more of Negan's wives who learn how to play Yar's Revenge -- who knew the zombie apocalypse had Atari! We also dive into Dwight's past and find out that Negan, brutal and handsome he may be, not so smart as he throws away the compounds only healthcare option.

Visit www.thehmcnetwork.com for more podcasts, reviews, videos, news and more fan coverage from around the world!

James Delaney (Tom Hardy) better have a longterm plan up his sleeve cause Solomon Coop (Jason Watkins) is about to get medieval on him in the Tower of London. Our (anti) hero has been arrested for treason, thanks to Madame Helga (Franke Potente) who thinks Delaney killed her daughter Winter (Ruby-May Martinwood). Meanwhile the Company thinks it's sittin pretty now that Delaney is in prison, not so fast Stuart Strange (Jonathan Pryce), George Chichester (Lucian Msamati) has another witness up his sleeve --our cross dressing Company man Godfrey (Edward Hogg). Big revelations about arsenic and old lace from Delaney's Houseman/Butler Brace (David Hayman) and half-sis Zilpha (Oona Chaplin) minus two men.

Take a listen to our full review and visit www.thehmcnetwork.com for more tv, film, streaming, game and other reviews as well as videos, news and all kinds of FANcinations!

This week on We Talk Dead, a review and recap of The Walking Dead ep 710 "New Best Friends". Is this the Walking Dead or Resident Evil? Is this the Walking Dead or Road Warrior? Yeah, we're asking the same questions. Rick and the gang find themselves in a landfill with some new best friends and Wilson, the spiked up, armored Walker that Rick is forced to fight. Meanwhile back in The Kingdom, Daryl defends Carol, then reunites with his pal, Morgan loses his big stick, and Gabriel finds his balls - who knew he had them!

In this week's Now Playing Movie reviews on The HMC, John Wick: Chapter 2. Keanu Reeves is back as John Wick in this sequel to the knock out surprise kick ass hit of 2014. This time around he's got a new dog, and some new frenemies.

Strap in tight cause this ride is fast from the jump. After John Wick ties up some loose ends with his Russian pals he quickly finds that living a quiet life in the suburbs with his dog is never to be. Forced to carry out a task that will drag him deeper into the world of Assassins, Wick finds himself with a very large bounty on his head. Wick's got a few returning allies, chop shop man, Aurelio (John Leguizamo), Continental Hotel Manger, Winston (Ian McShane) and some new ones, Bowery King (Laurence Fishburne). He's also got some new adversaries fellow assassins Cassian (Common) and Ares (Ruby Rose).

If you're concerned that the sequel won't live up to the original, never fear. John Wick: Chapter 2 equals, and possibly rivals it's predecessor upping the anti on action whilst keeping its precise, albeit simple storytelling in tact. Director Chad Stahelski aided by Derek Kolstad's script, have built a complex and imaginative universe with the John Wick franchise. With this sequel, it continues to expand and grab you into it, not unlike other (magical) world building stories that have come before it. Thus far, it's the one to beat for 2017. 9/10.

Listen to our review and visit www.thehmcnetwork.com for more tv, movie and streaming reviews and more.

The Walking Dead is back! So is The HMC with our weekly series, We Talk Dead. This week we review the midseason premiere, Episode 9, Rock in the Road.

Rick and the gang are back and they are recruiting! It's gonna take more than just the gang at Alexandria to take on Negan and the Saviors. Roll call, Alexandria, Hilltop, maybe/hopefully The Kingdom, and it looks like a brand new group based on the "You've got to be effin kidding me" look on Rick's face at the end of this episode when they're surrounded by a new group. No sign of Negan, part from a radio appearance, but buckle up folks, we are in for a rocky and drawn out finale to Season 7.

Visit www.thehmcnetwork.com for more We Talk Dead, tv, movie reviews, videos and more cool stuff.

This week on The Harold & Maudecast TV Reviews, the FX Series Taboo Episode 6. Things are heating up for James Delaney (literally) as he has to scramble his ragtag crew together to move his newly manufactured gunpowder after his factory is discovered by the Company. As we know, betrayal doesn't sit well from Delaney, tongues and guts are a flyin in this episode. Also, we find out that hat pins are useful weapons for killing abusive husbands, the creepy meaning of Taboo sister/brother style and foreshadowing of more sinister deeds a foot in this dark and brilliant period thriller. Still not sure what to make of Taboo? Don't fret, we're with you but we're lovin it.

For more TV and movie reviews, videos, podcasts and more visit www.thehmcnetwork.com